Category Archives: Motorcycle Touring Trips

Utah Loop 2019 Day 7 – Canyonlands National Park

Posted on by
Reply

Today I ride and explore a portion of Canyonlands National Park. Like on Day 6, I stayed on the paved roads due to the fact that Dexter is a 2005 Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic, not ideal to riding the gravel roads / trail in Canyonlands.

I would like to return someday and explore this park more in depth and other areas around Moab and Utah, but on a touring adventure bike (which I do plan to add to the roster soonish, maybe 2025). I admit that riding Canyonlands National Park only on the paved roads is a serious injustice to the greatness of this National Park. But, that is ok. Now have a great excuse to come back to Moab again in the future! 🙂

The paved roads had some enjoyable curves with some areas having spectacular scenery, though not really visible for the pavement itself and hence, the really epic view were not capture on GoPro. However, I did take photos of the canyons and are at the end of this video at time mark 26:56:17 to include my campsite and pics of my tasty steak dinner I cooked .

Utah Loop 2019 Motorcycle Trip Day 6 – Arches National Park

Posted on by
Reply

I finally made it to Moab!

Today I ride through Arches National Park (main paved roads only) and hiked for a few hours on some of the trails.

Honestly, video and pictures do not do justice to the magnificent landscape of this National Park, truly a spectacular place to visit, feels almost other worldly. It was quite warm on this, about 95 degrees Fahrenheit but with the low humidity was not back hiking (also had my camelback of water with me).

Utah Loop 2019 Motorcycle Trip – Day 5 (The Trip Resumes)

Posted on by
Reply

The Trip Resumes
After the first breakdown east of Ely, NV due to a failed stator and the tows to Ely and Washington, UT causing a 2 day delay, and the breakdown in Beaver, UT due to a failing shifter shaft (teeth on shaft shearing off) resulting in another day lost (3 days delayed total) the trip has resumed on Day 5.

Trip Scope Change
This trip was originally entitled Wyoming Loop 2019 as the plan was to ride from Tonopah all the way to Moab, UT, spend a day in Moab and then ride from Moab to Douglas, WY to explore the Powder River Basin area in eastern Wyoming. My other significant hobby (and possibly primary hobby, certainly my oldest since 1978) is Model Railroading and general interest in railroads. The Powder River Basin in eastern Wyoming is coal country with numerous coal trains operated by the railroads BNSF and Union Pacific.

Due to the 3 day delay, I did not have enough time available to continue the trip as planned. Thus this trip became Utah Loop 2019 with a focus on touring and sightseeing in Utah. Also the original trip was planned to be 9 days total but I was able to add 1 more day by the grace of my employer at the time.

New Trip (Utah Loop 2019 now had me spending to full days in Moab, then taking the long scenic route to near Torrey, UT where I dispersed camped for one night. Then ride south on the epic Utah Highway 12 to near Zion National Park where I camped at very pleasant Hi-Road Basecamp campground. That night and part of the next day I briefly explored Zion National Park (staying on the main roads). Utah has some amazing scenery and the 3 and half days dedicated to exploring Utah was not nearly sufficient. Honestly, one could spend a week or two just exploring around Moab itself. I bypassed completely Bryce Canyon National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (though I did ride through Escalante itself). Utah is on my bucket list of must repeat states for riding, I hope to return someday (and not just passing through as I did in USA West 2020).

Utah Loop 2019 Motorcycle Trip – Days 2, 3, and 4

Posted on by
Reply

On a chilly Nevada morning on May 25 2019, I departed Tonopah to ride through Ely, Nevada and ending the day in Moab, Utah. However, after about 60 miles or so East of Tonopah I began to have warning lights indicating problems with my electrical charging. I pulled over, unlplugged everything that was charging (Windows tablet, GoPro batteries, etc) except for my cell phone. After a few more miles the light came on again and noticed the volmeter was bottomed out at 0, meaning my bike’s electrical (including spark and fuel injection, was all running of battery.

I decided to ride as far as I could towards Ely, Nevada and figure it all out from there. I made it to 63 miles west of Ely, Nevada and had to arrange for a tow the remainder of the distance to Ely. I discovered that there were no bike repair shots (at least at that time) in Ely. So, I arranged a tow to Zion Harley Davidson in Washington, Utah, a tow of 233 miles. The next day (May 27 2019) with Dexter’s (my bike) stator replaced, I rolled out onto Interstate 15 North and was planning to head to Moab, Utah.

This time I only made it about 96 miles to Beaver, Utah where I discovered I could no longer downshift (mounting frustration to say the least). Had the bike towed back to Zion Harley Davidson (by them) and had the bike fixed ….again.

This trip was originally named Wyoming Loop 2019 as the plan was to ride through Nevada, Utah, Colorado and into Wyoming’s Powder River Basin. Due to losing two days, I changed the trip to Utah Loop 2019 to ride in and explore Utah. In the end, I believe I came out a winner as Utah has loads of breath taking scenery and some extremely entertaining roads to ride. Utah may very well be my favorite state to ride in so far (with Colorado and California close behind).

Utah Loop 2019 Motorcycle Trip – Day 1

Posted on by
Reply

Day 1, Utah Loop 2019
I travel from Lake Elsinore, California riding North on Interstate 15, US Highway and then East on US Highway 6 into Nevada stopping for the day in Tonopah.

I stopped at Manzanar National Historic Site, a War Relocation Center during World War II and rode through the camp and posted some photos from the site. Also, the clouds and mountains nearby were especially beautiful on this day.

For more Information on Manzanar:
https://www.nps.gov/manz/index.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manzanar

USA South 2020 Motorcycle Trip – Day 9

Posted on by
Reply

Day 9 of USA South 2020 – October 15 2020. I depart from the motel in Jonesville, Louisiana in the wet, thick morning fog and continue the journey east rolling through Mississippi and stopping in Selma, Alabama.

Very pleasant travel day and happy to report no mechanical issues this day with Dexter. From here all the way to Georgia it’s trees and more trees :).